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LPGA begins west coast swing with return of the KIA classic

Mar 25. 2021Moriya and Ariya Jutanugarn (Photo credit to LPGA)

The LPGA Tour returns to Aviara Golf Club for the 11th Kia Classic after the 2020 competition was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Eight of the tournament’s previous 10 winners have made the trek to Carlsbad, Calif., including defending champion Nasa Hataoka of Japan, as well as Eun-Hee Ji (2018), Mirim Lee (2017), Lydia Ko (2016), Cristie Kerr (2015), Anna Nordqvist (2014), Yani Tseng (2012) and Sandra Gal (2011).

Aviara Golf Club is set to host a 144-player field from March 25-28. Among the competitors is World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, as all of the top-10 players in the Rolex Rankings will tee it up in San Diego County. Most recent LPGA Tour champion Austin Ernst also highlights the field, fresh off her win at the LPGA Drive On Championship presented by Volvik at Golden Ocala. She is one of three LPGA winners so far in 2021 and one of two champions from this year in the field, joined by Gainbridge LPGA victor Nelly Korda.

There are also a total of 15 players competing this week that call California home. Among the group is World Golf Hall of Fame member Juli Inkster, San Diego native Tiffany Joh, and four-time Solheim Cup Team USA member and University of Southern California alumna Lizette Salas, as well as second-year LPGA Tour rookies Andrea Lee, Esther Lee, Haley Moore and Yealimi Noh.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE KIA CLASSIC

• The Kia Classic debuted as the Kia Classic presented by J Golf at La Costa Resort & Spa in 2010, moved north to Pacific Palms Resort & Spa in 2011 then returned to La Costa in 2012 before moving to Aviara Golf Club in 2013 where it has been contested ever since
• The Kia Classic boasts 10 winners from eight different countries—Hee Kyung Seo, Mirim Lee, Eun-Hee Ji (Republic of Korea), Yani Tseng (Chinese Taipei), Sandra Gal (Germany), Nasa Hataoka (Japan), Lydia Ko (New Zealand), Beatriz Recari (Spain), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) and Cristie Kerr (United States)
• Players from the Republic of Korea have the most Kia Classic victories with three (Seo in 2010, Lee in 2017 and Ji in 2018)

HALEY MOORE CONTINUES TO #DRIVEON IN EXTENDED ROOKIE SEASON

The 2020 Kia Classic was supposed to be Haley Moore’s coming-out party as an LPGA Tour rookie, competing in her hometown event just 30 miles from her home in Escondido, Calif. Instead, that week saw the world come crashing to a halt thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

One year later and while the world isn’t quite back to normal, Moore is finally getting the chance to take on Aviara Golf Club for the first time not as a fan, but as an LPGA Tour Member. 

“I came out here a lot as a kid watching and it was at La Costa and then came out here the last couple years as a spectator and watching,” said Moore. “Really got to see how it was playing and watch a lot of girls out there and see how tough this course did play.”

With the pandemic-related break in the 2020 season, the LPGA Tour opted to give 2020 rookies an extension into the 2021 season. Moore hopes to take full advantage of that opportunity, saying that the added time gave her more time to adjust to life on the road.

“Once we started back up in June and we had been told it was kind of like a free kind of run, no status would change, I think it was actually good for me because I could really get a feel of what tour life is like,” said Moore. “Tour life is different, especially as a rookie. You have to adapt pretty quickly to get used to it.”

The year 2020 also brought big changes to Moore’s life outside the ropes. After speaking openly about having been bullied throughout her childhood, Moore started the Haley Moore Foundation, with a mission to “raise awareness that anyone can achieve any goal they place before themselves.” Her story became a tentpole of the LPGA’s Drive On campaign, featuring Moore’s powerful first-person essay about overcoming those childhood demons to reach her goals. Her closing lines were “The pain of being bullied is cutting and deep. I know. I also know that it makes you tough and strong. One day, not that far away, you will have to perform under pressure. It might not be a putt to win an NCAA Championship, or a par to earn your LPGA Tour card, but there will be something. When that moment arrives, you will be ready.”

Since that essay was published, Moore’s story has traveled around the world, with appearances on Good Morning America, BBC World News and other outlets. It’s a lot for any 22-year-old to manage, but Moore does it with a beaming smile on her face.

“To be a part of the Drive On story was something amazing. When I first heard of it, I just knew that kind of with what I had gone through I knew that I was probably going to be approached about it and be able to kind of create like my own story and everything. I wanted to create this foundation later in my career, and I just want to thank (LPGA Chief Brand and Communications Officer) Roberta Bowman and all of her team for working with me and developing a story,” said Moore. “My story has a huge impact today still on young boys and girls and anyone else who is bullied. I just think showing my story kind of all-around and sharing it through my foundation is going to be key.”

Moore will start her first round on Thursday at 7:33 a.m. local time off No. 10 tee with a fellow rookie in Jennifer Chang and Mo Martin.

JENNIFER CHANG FEELS AT HOME IN AN EVENT SHE HAS NEVER PLAYED

For some, it’s a return to LPGA Tour competition after what was arguably the strangest season in history. For others, this week’s Kia Classic is a homecoming, a nostalgic visit to familiar stomping grounds. A place they know.  

Second-year rookie Jennifer Chang didn’t grow up in Southern California. She’s a Carolina girl, the only person in history to win four consecutive North Carolina Women’s Amateur titles, and the pride of Athens Drive High School in Raleigh. But her three years as a Trojan at the University of Southern California gave the 21-year-old a sense of kinship with this part of the world. 

And the memories from a preview visit to Aviara during her freshman year of college came flooding back as she prepared to tee off for the first time in the Kia Classic.  

“I actually came out here my very first semester in school and became a spectator, so I got to see it behind the ropes,” Chang said on Wednesday afternoon in Carlsbad. “We watched a couple of the alumni from USC, so I got a sneak peek not knowing that I would get a chance to play here three years later.” 

She watched Lizette Salas back then, the most decorated Trojan golfer in history. And she spent a little time watching Lydia Ko, who is only three years older than Chang. She loved the rolling hills and fresh air in this part of California, just a short drive from the Pacific Ocean. But more than anything, she loves being back at Aviara as a competitor.

“Obviously, last year (the Kia Classic) being postponed was unfortunate. But I got a chance to play (Aviara) last year and got a sneak peek at the course.”

She studied the place. Like a coach watching game film, Chang looked at replays of old Kia Classics to get a sense of what she would face and what kind of numbers she might have to shoot.

To read the full story from Steve Eubanks on LPGA.com, visit:

https://www.lpga.com/news/2021/jennifer-chang-feels-at-home-in-an-event-she-has-never-played

BACK TO ‘NORMAL IN GEE,’ CHUN ADJUSTING TO LIFE AS HOMEOWNER IN UNITED STATES

In recent years, it has been a battle on and off the golf course for In Gee Chun. On the course, the competitor in her wants to again find the winner’s circle, a place that has eluded Chun since the 2018 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship. Off the course, she has grappled with depression and self-worth.

“I think all athletes work hard, and I did too, but when I tried working hard it gave me more pressure. I felt like I had to make the right result but I couldn’t made it, so I couldn’t enjoy the process and couldn’t enjoy golf,” said Chun, a two-time major champion. “Now, I’m trying to make golf more enjoyable and I trust myself. I don’t think about the result, just stay present and it helps me a lot. I have a good balance like in golf and my life.

“When I faced depression, my parents and friends and my [swing and mental] coach [Dr. Won Park] they tried to help me a lot but I could not hear what they said, so I hurt them. Now my ears are more open, so I really appreciate them. I think without them, I could not get back to normal In Gee.”

Perhaps a contributing factor to her newfound comfort is creating a base in the United States. Earlier this year, Chun bought a house near good friend Sei Young Kim in the greater Dallas metropolitan area. It has paid dividends, taking pressure off her when it comes to a rigorous travel schedule and offered a retail therapy outlet.

“When I go to practice with her [Sei Young] and friends, always happier,” said Chun. “I have to take care about mail. My house was empty, so the last off weeks I filled it with furniture. I got a lot of presents from my friends, so I really enjoyed playing with the new like technology machines. Now I have a home here and it feels more like home for me. I really enjoy my time at the house and when I have an off week then it’s really exciting to be back at my house.”

The transformation has also translated to results on the course. Across her first three starts in the 2021 LPGA Tour season, Chun has three top-10 finishes including a pair of top-five results, most recently the Drive On Championship presented by Volvik at Golden Ocala.

During the stretch to open the year, Chun has shot over par only once and recorded a combined total of 32-under par with 10 of her 12 rounds in red numbers. With the solid performances, “all my friends on Tour came to me and said, ‘Oh, good job In Gee. Good round,’ so it made me really happy,” Chun said. “I am very lucky to have all my good friends on the Tour.”

All her friends know just how good she is, and that belief is starting to shine in herself. Chun will head off No. 1 tee on Thursday at 12:33 p.m. local time for round one of the Kia Classic with Michelle Wie West and second-year rookie Albane Valenzuela.

BATIQUITOS DRIVE SPELLS HAPPY TRAILS FOR 2018 CHAMPION EUN-HEE JI

When she pulls into Aviara Golf Club off Batiquitos Drive, amazing memories flood the mind of Eun-Hee Ji. It’s her reality of happy trails as she finds her way back to Carlsbad, Calif., for the Kia Classic, an event she won in 2018.

“I’m really, really happy to be back here,” said Ji. “I won this tournament and when I come here, I always have good memories, you know, happy things about it. I’m really, really happy about this [having the Kia Classic back on the LPGA Tour schedule].”

There’s good reason for Ji to be happy. She not only won the event and took home a Kia Stinger, but she also aced the par-3 14th during the final round to cement her victory and win a Kia Sorrento. Quite the haul for the past champion.

A repeat of that week from 2018 would be a welcome sight in the LPGA Tour’s return to San Diego County in 2021, as Ji prepares for what she deems a tough track that challenges her game to the fullest.

“This course is actually really hard for me. Maybe I just focus more and practice harder and practice my putting more. So maybe that’s why I play better when I come here,” Ji said with a laugh.

That putting practice might just be the key to finding the winner’s circle again and becoming the first two-time champion in Kia Classic tournament history because, as Ji puts it, “especially have to good read for putting. Greens are pretty quick and there is a lot of slopes, so I have to really focus on reading the green and [maintaining] good pace. I always focus on the putting green [for this tournament week].”

SHARING YOUR STORY IS AN ACT OF TRUST: REFLECTIONS ON TWO YEARS OF DRIVE ON

“We wanted to celebrate the attributes of strength, focus and perseverance that have built the LPGA over more than 70 years, to give voice to the fire that you feel inside when you discover your passion and your gift. We wanted to share the stories of people whose courage and accomplishments inspire us, on and off the golf course. And, to give a name to the determination, resilience and sheer grit that it takes to chase your dreams. We named it: Drive On.” 

I remember standing on the stage at the JW Marriott in Phoenix. We had run a preview for players on Tuesday night, March 19, 2019 before the full launch for media and special guests the following morning. We’d chosen the Founders Cup to introduce the LPGA’s brand refresh, Drive On, the perfect week to connect the past with the present and the future. As the lights dimmed and the screen went dark, I remember feeling a rush of excitement, uncertainty, optimism and a little terror.

Drive On, and the video that introduced it, This Is For Every Girl, was a different kind of message for the LPGA. It’s less about golf and more about the golfer – who she is, where she’s from and her “why” in life. In short, Drive On is about the stories behind the players.  

Storytelling is at the heart of our common humanity. It’s how we communicate and connect. Drive On is about creating that bond; about bringing more fans and sponsors to the LPGA, and, ultimately, changing the face of golf.

That feeling of excitement and optimism when I took the stage in Phoenix came from believing that our players’ stories would have an impact. The uncertainty and terror came from not knowing whether or not our players would embrace the idea and make it their own.

Sharing your story is an act of trust. In a sport where every weakness is exposed; in a social media environment that can be harsh and unforgiving; in a world where images are carefully curated, would our players be willing to share both their dreams and their struggles?  

PAR-4 16TH SERVES AS THE AON RISK REWARD CHALLENGE HOLE AT AVIARA GOLF CLUB

The 16th at Aviara Golf Club is a reachable but challenging par-4. Risk and reward lurk in equal measure on and around the green, which is hourglass-shaped and features water to the left. This hole is a dogleg left with a generous landing area off the tee but can be especially tricky because of its sloping fairway and uneven lies. Accurate club selection for an approach into an exceptionally deep green is critical and there must be extra consideration when the pin is cut left. 

For more information on this week’s Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole and the season-long competition, click here: https://www.lpga.com/statistics/aon-risk-reward-challenge

RACE TO THE CME GLOBE UPDATE

The 2021 season-long Race to the CME Globe picks up at the Kia Classic, the fourth event of the year. With her third career victory earlier this month in the LPGA Drive On Championship presented by Volvik at Golden Ocala, Austin Ernst earned 500 points and moved to No. 3 in the standings with a total of 551 points. She trails only Nelly Korda (759 points) and Jessica Korda (614 points), who won the Gainbridge LPGA and Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions presented by IOA, respectively. Lexi Thompson is ranked fourth with 467 points and Danielle Kang rounds out the top-five competitors (440 points).

The Race to the CME Globe is a season-long points competition which LPGA Tour Members accumulate points in every official LPGA tournament to gain entry into the season-ending tournament, CME Group Tour Championship. The player who wins the CME Group Tour Championship is named the “Race to the CME Globe Champion.”

Beginning in 2019, players started earning points at each official LPGA Tour event throughout the season leading up to the CME Group Tour Championship. The top-60 points earners and ties then earn a spot in the CME Group Tour Championship with the entire field competing for a $5 million purse highlighted by a $1.5 million winner’s check, the largest single prize in the history of women’s golf.

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trust Golf announced as title sponsor of Women’s Scottish Open

Mar 25. 2021

Trust Golf, part of the TCT Corporation, will title sponsor the Women’s Scottish Open this year, giving the prestigious event a major boost alongside a new long-term commitment from the Scottish Government.

Known as the Ladies Scottish Open since being established in 2007, the Tournament will be renamed the Women’s Scottish Open as well as taking place at a brand-new venue in Dumbarnie Links from 12-15 August 2021.

With the Scottish Government, through VisitScotland, confirming its ongoing support of women’s golf through a five-year funding commitment to the Women’s Scottish Open, the introduction of Trust Golf as the new title sponsor sees a further boost for the illustrious co-sanctioned LPGA and Ladies European Tour event.

The Thai-based technology enterprise, founded by Dr. Prin Singhanart, works with the next generation of Thai golf professionals and through its sponsorship of the Women’s Scottish Open hopes to forge closer relationships with Scotland and to further develop its educational programme.

Dr. Prin commented: “We are delighted to be partnering with Scottish Government, IMG, the LPGA, and the Ladies European Tour as we look to bring our company’s ethos out into the wider world. This leading Tournament offers us a wonderful platform to spotlight the work of Trust Golf and we really feel that there is no better place for us to take our next step than Scotland, the Home of Golf. We are honoured to partner with Visit Scotland who have done so much to support golf, and especially the women’s game, and excited to be part of Dumbarnie Links’ first professional golf tournament. I’m excited to see how we can develop this partnership in the future.”

The Scottish Government and VisitScotland have a long-standing commitment to women’s golf having supported the Women’s Scottish Open from 2007 and been partners of the AIG Women’s Open since 2011. The country also hosted the hugely successful Solheim Cup at Gleneagles in 2019, setting a record for attendance at a women’s golf event. The new agreement will see the Scottish Government and VisitScotland continue to support the Women’s Scottish Open with investment of up to £6m through to 2025.

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture Fiona Hyslop said: “Our long-term commitment to the Women’s Scottish Open underlines the important role women’s sport plays at the heart of a fair and equal society and I’m pleased that we are able to continue our support for a tournament that has grown into one of the most important on the women’s golf calendar. It is vital that we continue the momentum from hosting The 2019 Solheim Cup and maintain Scotland’s position at the forefront of the sport. We welcome the support of Trust Golf as title sponsor and look forward to working with them to ensure that women’s golf continues to be a positive force for good. With the change of tournament name showcasing a progressive approach and a move to a stunning new venue in Dumbarnie Links, I’m looking forward to seeing the event go from strength to strength in the coming years.”

New tournament host venue, Dumbarnie Links is one of Scotland’s newest courses yet most lauded as it made an immediate impression on golf aficionados worldwide when it opened in May 2020, already establishing itself as an unmissable golfing experience on the east coast. Situated on land that has a mile and a half of sea frontage with panoramic views over the Firth of Forth, it sits comfortably amongst the likes of St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Crail located just down the coastline.

Clive Clark, a former European Ryder Cup player and renowned course architect who founded, designed and developed Dumbarnie Links, said: “We are very excited to be hosting our first professional event this summer and are looking forward to showcasing our beautiful course to the global audience that follows professional golf. We are very much looking forward to seeing how the world’s best women golfers take on the challenges of Dumbarnie Links as well as partnering with Visit Scotland and Trust Golf.”

Ross Hallett, SVP, Golf Events at IMG added: “At a time when the world is still dealing with COVID-19, and appreciating that there are big challenges in the world right now, it is undoubtably a time to look to the future. This is exactly what Trust Golf, Visit Scotland and Dumbarnie Links have done in committing to this important women’s event in Scotland.  Women’s sport has been disproportionally disadvantaged during the last 12 months and I know I speak for everyone at the LPGA, Ladies European Tour and all the players when I say how appreciative we are to all three organisations. I’m delighted to welcome Trust Golf and Dumbarnie Links as the Women’s Scottish Open’s newest partners and I’m excited about what the partnership can achieve.”

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New Thai women’s tour dangles 10 world-ranking tournaments, Bt30m prize money

Mar 24. 2021

By THE NATION

The newly established Thai Women’s Professional Golf Association (Thai WPGA) will hold 10 world-ranking tournaments and challenger events in 2021 with over Bt30 million in prize money up for grabs.

Thai WPGA president Chanya Sawangchitr confirmed the plan while announcing the association’s board of directors at the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club Pattaya.

“We plan to hold 10 tournaments each year offering official world ranking. In its first year, the international-standard circuit will be named the “Women’s Tour Road to World Ranking”,” said Chanya, who is also CEO of the Phoenix Gold Club. 

“We will also organise a Thai Women Challenger Tour for local players to sharpen their skills to meet the international standard. The two tours feature more than Bt30 million in overall prize money and will be a springboard for pursuing a golf career on the global stage,” she added.

Chanya said a key aim of the Thai WPGA was to develop Thailand’s next generation of female golf stars. 

“Key figures in Thai golf have been invited to join us in an attempt to develop professional female golfers in Thailand systematically and continuously through tournaments of world standard,” she said.

She also hailed the roles of three WPGA vice-presidents – Kessuda Raiva, La Leewan Kanjanachari and Rachanee Tripipatkul – in getting the new tour off the ground.

The Thai WPGA will tee off with the Bt1-million Phoenix Ladies Classic at the 6,328-yard Phoenix Gold course from March 26-28. A total of 144 professionals and amateurs will compete over 54 holes. After two rounds, the top 60 players will advance to the final day and compete for the winner’s cheque of Bt110,000.

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Lights, camera… RACE WEEK! MotoGP revs back into life

Mar 24. 2021

After a long winter break and five days of official testing, the time has finally come to suit and boot up for racing.

First we saw the liveries, then we saw the class of 2021 head out for testing. Now, at the floodlit oasis of Losail International Circuit, it’s time to get suited and booted for another season of stunning competition. Rarely is anything predictable in this era of MotoGP™, but there is at least one certainty everyone can agree on: we’re most definitely ready to go racing. Are you?

This season, the headlines are overflowing before a lap has even been ticked off in anger. A new reigning Champion begins the year on the throne, Joan Mir (Team Suzuki Ecstar), and the world waits with bated breath to find out when we will get to see the return of eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team), although we know it won’t be to race in Qatar. Rider and team musical chairs leaves us with a different grid and new colours for many, as well as a few new faces as we welcome four rookies. But it’s the same incredible level of competition: thousandths are the new hundredths in MotoGP™.

And so we arrive into Round 1. Doha hosts the first and second Grands Prix of the season and Losail also opened its doors for all the official winter test days this year, so we’re not heading in blind but we are heading in primed. Jack Miller (Ducati Lenovo Team) arrives with the biggest target on his back, flanked by a flotilla of Yamahas as the testing timesheets saw the Aussie and his teammate Francesco Bagnaia bookend a top five reigned by Ducati and Yamaha. But there’s more to racing than one-lap speed…

Miller will definitely be one to watch as the lights go out, however, as will Bagnaia. Both are full factory this season and the pressure is certainly greater, but so too are the performances we’ve seen so far. Losail has also seen the Borgo Panigale factory enjoy some serious success of late, and the stage is set for the Bologna bullets to start the season where they’ll wish to go on: the front. That’s not forgetting the likes of Johann Zarco either as the Frenchman moves to Pramac Racing and enjoys ever more experience with the Italian machine, also proving his mettle in testing. The holeshot heroes have some serious top speed and three experienced riders who look ready, on paper, to get straight in the mix.

The timesheets in testing were far from a one-trick pony though. Three Yamahas ended the test within less than a tenth and a half of Miller at the top: Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and last year’s Championship runner up Franco Morbidelli (Petronas Yamaha SRT). Viñales starts the year settled in, Morbidelli likewise. Quartararo switches to the factory Yamaha squad, but seems to have immediately found his footing. So too has nine-time World Champion Valentino Rossi at Petronas Yamaha SRT as the legendary Italian – never one to push for a stunner in testing but still near the top ten – was full of enthusiasm after the five days on track that prefaced the season. After a 2020 of highs and lows for the Iwata marque, and Ducati to an extent, are the two factories who took testing by the horns the two who arrive into the first Grand Prix ready to do the same in race trim?

Just behind them, sixth in testing saw Aprilia come to the fore. Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) put the Noale factory’s nearly all-new bike right up there every time he went out on track, and increasing expectation has so far been backed up by ever-increasing pace. What can the number 41 do once the lights go out? With teammate Lorenzo Savadori coming back from injury and also a rookie, Espargaro is the man in the spotlight for the new bike as racing gets underway in earnest. We’ve seen flashes of brilliance, but the 2021 aim for Aprilia will be to sustain that.

And then there’s Suzuki. Seventh and eighth was where reigning Champion Joan Mir and Suzuki Ecstar teammate Alex Rins ended the Qatar Test, and the feedback was positive. Consistently fast and consistently threatening in 2020, nothing in testing said Suzuki won’t be out the blocks to defend both the riders title and the teams’ Championship. The Hamamatsu factory’s Achilles heel – if such a thing exists in a season of such success – was qualifying last season, so that may be the first thing to keep a keen eye on as Saturday arrives. It seems though that nothing big to report may translate into “yes, we very much require the Jaws music once the lights go out for racing”… with test rider Sylvain Guintoli already having been working on their 2022 engine during the Qatar Test. If that’s not a mark of feeling everything is under control…

As race weekend arrives, meanwhile, we will be left waiting for the answer to one of the biggest questions: when will Marc Marquez return? Sidelined by injury after Jerez last year, it’s been a long, long road of surgery and recovery for the eight-time World Champion but the signs are looking good. Recently on track on a Honda RC213V-S in Catalunya and Portimão and looking ever more ready to race, there was certainly more than enough to make a good few rumours. His return won’t be in Qatar, however, so the foreboding music for his rivals remains on low for now.

On the other side of the Repsol Honda Team garage there’s plenty to talk about too though. Pol Espargaro joins the fold and, after an impressive trajectory over the past couple of seasons, began 2021 with an equally impressively quick adaptation to the Honda. Fast and fast often, the Spaniard was tenth overall in testing and could be a dark horse for much further forward as the race weekend begins, with each session of track time only giving him more experience of his new bike and team. Premier class podium finisher? Check. Race winner is the next goal.

LCR Honda Idemitsu’s Takaaki Nakagami will be hoping to move forward too after a slightly more muted test, as both he and new teammate Alex Marquez (LCR Honda Castrol) suffered a few crashes – the latter also injuring his foot but ready to head back out for Round 1. Both fought for podiums last year and Alex Marquez successfully, as a rookie no less, so they’ll want to move back up the field to where they’d left off last season.

That’s also true of KTM. The Austrian factory ripped up the history books and wrote a few replacements in 2020, with Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) winning them their first MotoGP™ race – and his, as a rookie and the first premier class winner from South Africa – and new teammate Miguel Oliveira then adding two more MotoGP™ victories for KTM as well as becoming the first Portuguese premier class winner. Oliveira, now alongside Binder in the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, was the fastest Austrian machine in testing, but the two were side by side in P16 and P17. They’ll want more once the lights go out as KTM look to continue their roll of incredible success, but we’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: testing is testing. Friday practice, qualifying and then finally the first race of the year are often a wiser litmus test.

Iker Lecuona (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) will be looking for more this year too as he starts his second season, needing to move up from where he ended testing, and new arrival Danilo Petrucci (Tech3 KTM Factory Racing) will be interesting to watch too as he adapts to his new bike.

Speaking of adaptation, there’s also plenty to keep an eye out for as the Moto2™ graduates begin their first seasons, eager to get in the mix. Savadori is a rookie but with a few events under his belt by now, whereas the trio of rookies moving up from the intermediate class tasted MotoGP™ for the very first time in the Qatar Test. The fastest of the three was Jorge Martin (Pramac Racing) in 14th, but it was incredibly close as reigning Moto2™ World Champion Enea Bastianini (Avintia Esponsorama) was just 0.022 further back. Luca Marini (Sky VR46 Avintia) was a little more in arrears but also impressed, and just like those adapting from one factory to another… every session is just another chance to improve.

The stage is set, the floodlights are primed and the grid is ready to start another rollercoaster season of incredible racing with the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar. Don’t miss it, with lights out for the first MotoGP™ race of 2021 at 20:00 (GMT +3). Let’s GO! MotoGP™ Qatar Test top five: 1 Jack Miller – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – 1:53.183 2 Maverick Viñales – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.061 3 Fabio Quartararo – Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP – Yamaha – +0.080 4 Franco Morbidelli* – Petronas Yamaha SRT – Yamaha – +0.140 5 Francesco Bagnaia – Ducati Lenovo Team – Ducati – +0.261 *Independent Team rider Too close to call? Moto2™ gears up for 2021 Lowes, Bezzecchi and Gardner headline an all-star cast in the intermediate class If testing taught us anything ahead of the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar, it’s that Moto2™ is almost too close to call. Day 2 saw six riders within 0.089, and on Day 3 the top three were split by just half a tenth – giving a whole host of names the right to call themselves contenders. So let’s take a look at a few, but by no means all. The fastest man in Qatar so far in 2021 is Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team). The 2020 title challenger looks ready to pick up where he left off and you could likely call him the favourite. By far the most experienced of the quickest riders in testing, Lowes is in good shape for an assault on the crown and in a better position than this time last year when he missed the Qatar GP due to injury – and then he still took the fight all the way down to the wire… Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46), meanwhile, lurks just thousandths further back. The Italian also fought for the crown for much of the latter half of last season and became a Moto2™ race winner before a few mistakes derailed his final challenge. But mistakes can be a useful thing to a rider on a mission, because they teach lessons – and Bezzecchi has certainly proven himself a fast learner and a fast rider. The same could be said of Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo). The Australian has shown flashes of blazing pace and talent but sometimes peppered with mistakes or simple bad luck – including some serious injury struggles. Going into 2021, however, he’s with one of the most successful teams in the class and turned some good 2020 momentum into even more in pre-season testing. One of the quickest and most consistent in Doha so far, is this the moment it all starts to come together for Gardner? One thing’s for sure: the Aussie will push as hard as possible trying to make sure it does. So who else looks threatening? Aron Canet (Inde Aspar Team) was a big presence on the timesheets on Friday and Saturday in testing and seems like he’s made another step forward to build on an impressive rookie season. Xavi Vierge (Petronas Sprinta Racing) had some serious speed too, and his teammate Jake Dixon – despite having been told his injury woes could even threaten his career – was another who seemed to have unlocked something even more as we begin 2021. Bo Bendsneyder (Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team) also seemed to have made a step forward. Now on a Kalex and with more experience under his belt, the Dutchman impressed in the test and could be one to watch. And what about Joe Roberts? The American moves to Italtrans Racing Team for 2021 and, after a stunner in Qatar last year, will want to start his new chapter in similar form. It wouldn’t be a new year without some fresh faces either. Raul Fernandez (Red Bull KTM Ajo) flew the rookie flag the highest in the test as he immediately looked like a seasoned campaigner. Easily in the top ten and fastest rookie throughout, just that bit more – that he’ll be focused on finding in practice – could see him really start to challenge the more established names ahead of him too. Reigning Moto3™ World Champion Albert Arenas (Inde Aspar Team) moved up into the top ten on Day 3 too, and his old lightweight class sparring partners weren’t so far behind as Tony Arbolino (Liqui Moly Intact GP) and Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) also look to be settling in well. American Cameron Beaubier (American Racing) made solid progress too as he adjusts not from Moto3™ but MotoAmerica… and his rate of knots moving up the timesheets day by day was testament to progress. Who will strike first in the battle of the rookies, and will they take any veteran scalps along the way? We’ll find out soon enough as the first battle – and the first Championship leader – is decided in the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar. Moto2™ saddle up at 18:20 local time (GMT +3), with the first 25 points – and bragging rights – up for grabs. Moto2™ Qatar Test top five: 1 Sam Lowes – Elf Marc VDS Racing Team – Kalex – 1:58.655 2 Marco Bezzecchi – Sky Racing Team VR46 – Kalex – +0.013 3 Remy Gardner – Red Bull KTM Ajo – Kalex – +0.048 4 Xavi Vierge – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Kalex – +0.177 5 Jake Dixon – Petronas Sprinta Racing – Kalex – +0.182 Veterans vs rookies: Moto3™ gets ready to rumble Masia, Foggia, McPhee, Binder, Rodrigo; the veterans were up there in testing. But then there are the rookies… What’s the perfect way to end the last day of testing? Probably something like Jaume Masia’s (Red Bull KTM Ajo) new – although unofficial – lap record. The Spaniard seems pretty settled in at Red Bull KTM Ajo already, and his warning shot will likely be heard by his rivals. But then, so too will that of new teammate Pedro Acosta. So is this season going to begin a clash of the rookies and veterans? Masia’s lap was certainly a stunner, but we already know that Moto3™ is rarely a runaway game at the front and the likes of Dennis Foggia (Leopard Racing), John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing), his new teammate Darryn Binder – adapting well to the Honda – and Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) won’t go down without a good few classic lightweight class battles. We also know that the rookies this year have hit the ground running in a way we’ve not seen for some time. Acosta is one – the 2020 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup winner second in testing behind only his teammate – and Izan Guevara (GasGas Gaviota Aspar Team) another as the reigning FIM Moto3™ Junior World Champion blazed out the blocks with some serious speed. What makes their performances all the more impressive is that they don’t know the track like they do some of the venues in Europe, and that’s something else to maybe make a few a little nervous later in the season. But for now, what is too much to ask? Wins? Podiums? They certainly have the speed, but the tactics will be a key test – as will holding their nerve. That said, it’s been some time since this pedigree of CV has been on show. Both the FIM Moto3™JWCh and Rookies are known proving grounds and two of the most successful programmes on the Road to MotoGP™, but both Acosta and Guevara have even more in their track records. Acosta absolutely dominated the Rookies, which has been done before, but he also backed it up with race wins in the FIM CEV Repsol as he came third overall in the aforementioned FIM Moto3™ JWCh. Guevara, meanwhile, just can’t stop progressing. European Talent Cup winner in 2019, the Spaniard then moved to the FIM Moto3™ JWCh and by Jerez mid-season was almost unbeatable on his way to the crown. At Aragon, he won all three races – riders have done that before, a good match between man, machine and venue can create a little magic – only, after a nightmare qualifying, Guevara managed it three times in a row from outside the top 20 on the grid. Convinced yet? Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing), meanwhile, may not have been quite as near the front as his rookie compatriots, but he’s also already got a Grand Prix podium as he took to the rostrum on a wildcard in Valencia in 2019, too. On his first Grand Prix appearance. He ended the test in 11th, only just behind Darryn Binder, and shouldn’t be overlooked either after a season at the front in the FIM Moto3™ JWCh too – he’s the man who lost out on the crown to Guevara, losing a little momentum but after most definitely having done more than enough to impress regardless. The timesheets gave us plenty to be excited about in testing. The lightning speed of the rookies and the aforementioned veterans alike, as well as riders like Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and 2020 Rookie of the Year Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) and their consistent pace. Who will take the first flag of the year in Moto3™? We’ll find out soon, after another 18 laps of wonderful lightweight class chaos. Tune in for the Moto3™ race at the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar at 17:00 (GMT +3) on Sunday the 28th of March. Moto3™ Qatar Test top five: 1 Jaume Masia – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM – 2:04.263 2 Pedro Acosta – Red Bull KTM Ajo – KTM –  +0.306 3 Dennis Foggia – Leopard Racing – Honda – +0.440 4 Izan Guevara – GasGas Gaviota Aspar Team – GasGas – +0.455 5 Gabriel Rodrigo – Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3 – Honda – +0.527

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Korea’s birdie-machine Im seeks to become Asia’s first winner at WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play

Mar 23. 2021Sungjae Im (Credit to Getty Images)

Korea’s birdie-machine Sungjae Im plans to cement his reputation as a match play expert with a strong showing in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play starting on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old makes his debut in the US$10.5 million, 64-man field tournament at Austin Country Club with every intention of utilising his aggressive style of play to help him become Asia’s first winner of the event, which sees a welcome change from the traditional strokeplay format on the PGA TOUR this week.

 After a stellar Presidents Cup debut in 2019 where he delivered 3.5 points for the International Team which included a convincing 4 & 3 Singles win over Gary Woodland, Im hopes to remain in the competition until Sunday for the all-important Championship match. He led the Total Birdies category on TOUR in 2019 (480 birdies) and 2020 (390 birdies) and currently leads the category with 286 birds so far this season.

 He has been drawn into Group 16 alongside Victor Perez, International teammate Marc Leishman and Russell Henley, with the round-robin group winner progressing into the single-match knockout stage. Other Asians in this week’s elite field headlined by World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and defending champion Kevin Kisner, include Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.

 Kim, who earned his third PGA TOUR title in January and fresh from a top-10 at THE PLAYERS Championship, is in Group 5 with current FedExCup points leader Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood and Antoine Rozner while Matsuyama will face Patrick Cantlay, Carlos Ortiz and Brian Harman in Group 10.

 Im has a chance to live up to his nickname, the “Ironman”, as any player who harbours dreams of winning the tournament will be required to play seven matches in five days.

 “In match play, I have to focus on every hole. I need play well to beat my opponent. That is the main difference between match play and stroke play. In stroke play, every hole’s score matters, but in match play, if I lose one hole, I can make up in the next hole. I still have a chance to compete with my opponent, so I need to keep my focus and the strategy is different.”

 He recalls the bittersweet experience at the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in Australia in December 2019, which is one of the highlights of his burgeoning career. Although he was the joint top scorer for his team, the Internationals narrowly lost 16-14 to the United States Team led by Tiger Woods.

 “At that time at the Presidents Cup, I was in good form. I felt great and the conditions were also great. I had the confidence that I could beat anyone in that field,” said Im, who enters the week following a T8 in his defence of The Honda Classic on Sunday.

 Asia’s closest challenger the history of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play was Japan’s Hideto Tanahira who qualified for the Semifinals in 2017 before losing 1-up to eventual winner Dustin Johnson. Tanihara had beaten the likes of Ross Fisher, Paul Casey and Jordan Spieth en route to the weekend rounds. In 2018, Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat made it through to the Quarterfinals but lost to eventual champion Bubba Watson while in 2019, China’s Haotong Li qualified for the fourth round but fell to eventual winner Kevin Kisner.

 Johnson enters the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play as the top seed for the fourth consecutive year and will look to add to his 2017 title at Austin Country Club. He will go up against Kevin Na, Robert MacIntyre and Adam Long in the group stages. Defending champion Kevin Kisner,, who won the 2019 event as the No. 48 seed, will begin his long-awaited title defence, joining recent PLAYERS champion Justin Thomas, Louis Oosthuizen and Matt Kuchar. Kisner defeated Kuchar, the 2013 champion, in the 2019 Championship match, 3 & 2. Oosthuizen has also advanced to the Championship match at Austin Country Club, falling to Jason Day in 2016.

 The Dell Technologies Match Play returns for its fifth playing at Austin Country Club after being cancelled in 2020 following the onset of COVID-19. For more information about the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play follow our social channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @DellMatchPlay or visit dellmatchplay.com.

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Olympics barring of foreign fans seen worth economic hit

Mar 23. 2021A visitor takes a photograph of illuminated Olympic rings floating in the waters off Odaiba island in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. MUST CREDIT: Bloomberg photo by Toru Hanai

By Syndication Washington Post, Bloomberg · Yoshiaki Nohara, Emi Urabe, Toru Fujioka

The economic hit from excluding foreign spectators from attending the Tokyo Olympic Games is a price worth paying if it means the event can take place this year, according to economists.

The likely impact on the world’s third-largest economy of Saturday’s decision to bar spectators from overseas could reach 600 billion yen ($5.5 billion) after the ripple effects of weakening future interest in visiting Japan is factored in, said Yuki Masujima, economist at Bloomberg Economics.

The immediate hit from lost ticket sales and empty hotel rooms would be closer to 250 billion yen, he said.

While a lack of overseas fans and packed stadiums will take some of the gleam off the world’s biggest sporting event and will hit a hospitality sector that bet on a surge in foreign visitors, taking action to ensure it goes ahead without complicating the battle against the virus is more important for the economy, analysts concluded.

“The decision increases the feasibility of the Olympic Games taking place,” Masujima said. “Staging the Games will be a big positive for the recovery of business and consumer sentiment, both of which are critical for the recovery of Japan’s economy.”

While Masujima’s estimate is at the higher end of projections for the cost of losing foreign Olympic fans, it’s still only around 0.1% of the size of the economy spread over time. If the Games were canceled altogether, the cost would run to 3.5 trillion yen, or 0.7% of gross domestic product, he said.

Other economists gave smaller estimates for the damage from excluding overseas fans. The hit would mount to about 191 billion yen, according to economist Takahide Kiuchi at Nomura Research Institute. That compares with a 160 billion yen loss estimated by economist Shuji Tonouchi at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley.

Economists also noted that almost all the investment for the Olympics has already taken place.

“Tourist, hotel and other service industries were one of few growing sectors in Japan’s economy before the pandemic and they invested in upgrading capacity with high expectations for the Olympic Games,” said Hiroshi Shiraishi, senior economist at BNP Paribas. “But the decision itself makes sense. It wouldn’t be wise for Suga to allow foreigners and risk spreading the virus again given the slow progress in vaccine distribution.”

The Games were forecast to bring in 207.9 billion yen in spending by participants and spectators if they were held under normal conditions, according economist Yutaro Suzuki at Daiwa Institute of Research Holdings.

The sum will drop to around 140 to 150 billion yen without foreign spectators and to just 2 billion yen without any fans at all, Suzuki estimates.

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Thai volleyball star Nootsara named among world’s top 100 players

Mar 22. 2021

By THE NATION

Thailand’s Nootsara “Sara” Tomkom has been named one of the world’s top 100 volleyball players by the sport’s global governing body.

Nootsara is the only Thai player chosen by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) for its “Roster 100: The World’s Best 2010-2020”.

The 38-year-old setter played a key role in the Thailand women team’s rise to global success, highlighted by a straight-sets win against volleyball giants Brazil in 2017.

As the team’s playmaker, Nootsara runs the offence and creates scoring opportunities for the team, the FIVB explained. “But Nootsara is no ordinary setter, as she goes for creativity and a higher degree of difficulty in setting.”

The Roster 100 consists of both male and female volleyball and beach volleyball players from around the world.

The ranking of the world’s best players over the last decade features 19 Asian and Oceania athletes.

1. Pata and Matauatu, Vanuatu

2. Yuki Ishikawa, Japan

3. Saeid Marouf, Iran

4. Cherif Younousse, Qatar

5. Miki Ishii and Megumi Murakami, Japan

6. Seyed Mohammad Mousavi Eraghi, Iran

7. Thomas Edgar, Australia

8. Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar, Australia

9. Xue Chen and Zhang Xi, China

10. Kim Yeon Koung, Korean

11. Zhu Ting, China

12. Erika Araki, Japan

13. Nootsara Tomkom, Thailand

14. Ding Xia, China

15. Saori Kimura, Japan

16. Yuji Nishida, Japan

*source: www.volleyball.world/en/roster100

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Pornpawee’s All England dream shattered

Mar 22. 2021Pornpawee Chochuwong and Nozomi Okuhara

By THE NATION

Thailand has yet to wait for its first All England Open winner after Pornpawee Chochuwong succumbed the women’s singles final to former world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan on Sunday.

The Thai No 2 could not repeat the spectacular performance that led to a stunning win against former world No 1 Sindhu V. Pusarla, losing to the Japanese 21-12 21-16 in her first final on a World Tour Super 1000 tournament.

“Today was a really tough match for me. Maybe she [Okuhara] has more fighting spirit than I do,” said the world No 11 Pornpawee. “She is more patient too while I made some mistakes. She controlled the game,” she added.

Her defeat means Thai players came short in all nine final attempts (men’s and women’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles) at the All England  since 1960. Last year, Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai also lost the mixed doubles final to Praveen Jordan and Melati Oktavianti of Indonesia.

“I think whole experience has been good for me. I hope to be back and I git it another trial in this tournament,” said the 23-year-old Pornpawee.

Okuhara won the title for the second time after her maiden came in 2016.

From the opening moments, it was apparent that it would be a tall order for the Thai to hurt the Japanese. Okuhara’s solidity gave the Thai no openings, and the second seed was never threatened.

“I’m very happy to be the All England champion again!” said Okuhara. “I wanted to play the same in this final as in my other matches, but I wanted to play my shots to the back higher which worked very well. It’s her first time in the final of the All England, I think she felt a little bit of pressure.

“Five years ago I won here and there was no pressure, this time I’m in the top five in women’s singles so that has changed things. But my overall play is now at a higher level so I am very happy.”

In the men’s singles, Malaysian Zii Jia Lee stunned tournament’s favourite Viktor Axelsen of Denmark 30-29 20-22 21-9 in a marathon showdown.

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Lowes, Bezzecchi and Gardner end Sunday within just 0.048

Mar 22. 2021

It was another incredibly close day on the timesheets for Moto2™, with the Brit taking top honours this time

Another day, another incredibly tight fight at the top of the Moto2™ timesheets? Yup. Sunday at the Official Moto2™ and Moto3™ Qatar Test saw Sam Lowes (Elf Marc VDS Racing Team) snatch P1 in the intermediate class, but the top three was covered by just 0.048 as Marco Bezzecchi (Sky Racing Team VR46) took second and Remy Gardner (Red Bull KTM Ajo) third. All three will likely be starting the year expecting to challenge for wins, and their tests only underlined their speed. The conditions were fair on Sunday once again, and Lowes’ best is the quickest lap of the test as preparations continued for the coming race weekend(s). The gaps one again show we have a stunner in store, across the top three and throughout the timesheets. Lowes, Bezzecchi and Gardner will leave the test happy, and so too will Jake Dixon (Petronas Sprinta Racing) as the Brit rounded out Sunday in fourth. After a wrist injury that could have been a career-threatener, getting straight back into the top five is no mean feat. That top five on Day 3 of the test was completed by Dixon’s teammate Xavi Vierge, who was fastest on Saturday.  Sixth place goes to Bo Bendsneyder on Day 3 as the Dutchman continues to impress upon his move to Pertamina Mandalika SAG Team and Kalex. He was only 0.033 off Vierge as he made a late leap up the timesheets, and is another who has been consistently improving. Nicolo Bulega (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) ends Sunday in seventh, another late to move up the timesheets but doing so in style. Style is also a good word to describe the start of Raul Fernandez’ (Red Bull KTM Ajo) Moto2™ career. Fastest rookie throughout, the Spaniard is on course for an incredibly impressive debut race weekend. So too, now, is Albert Arenas (Inde Aspar Team) though as the reigning Moto3™ World Champion shot up into the top ten on Sunday, only 0.052 off fellow rookie Fernandez. Arenas’ teammate Aron Canet completes the top ten, sliding down from second on Day 1 and Day 2 but another with some key consistency. Stefano Manzi (Flexbox HP40) takes P11 by just 0.003 ahead of another impressive rookie in the form of Ai Ogura (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia), with yet another right behind him: Cameron Beaubier (American Racing). The American was only 0.016 off Ogura too… and pipped compatriot Joe Roberts (Italtrans Racing Team) by 0.011. Marcel Schrötter (Liqui Moly Intact GP) completed the fastest fifteen, just edging out rookie teammate Tony Arbolino. That’s it from the pre-season test for the Moto2™ class, with the stage well and truly set for the first race of the season. Are Lowes, Bezzecchi, Gardner and their experienced compatriots ready for battle? And can the rookies edge ever closer as practice begins? Find out on Friday as the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar begins. And in the meantime, keep an eye out for more content from the test on motogp.com! Bezzecchi was near the top once again And Gardner? His speed is going nowhere Arenas wasn’t quite the fastest rookie but he was only 0.052 off it, in P9 Moto3™: Masia decimates the lap record to lead Red Bull KTM Ajo 1-2 on Day 3 The experienced Spaniard puts in a stunner ahead of another impressive day from teammate Acosta, with Foggia ending Sunday in third Jaume Masia (Red Bull KTM Ajo) went quickest on Day 3 of the Moto2™ and Moto3™ Official Test in Qatar, topping the combined timesheets on Sunday by three tenths and with a lap quite a chunk faster than the previous record, although it will remain unofficial as it was set in testing. And who was closest on his tail? His rookie teammate Pedro Acosta, as both the 2020 Red Bull Rookies Cup winner and 2020 FIM Moto3™ Junior World Champion Izan Guevara (GasGas Gaviota Aspar Team) continued their incredible rookie form, with Acosta second and Guevara taking fourth. Between the two debutants, Leopard Racing’s Dennis Foggia was third overall with more consistent speed on show from the Italian. The conditions were good once again on Day 3, with Masia’s best lap taking a second off the fastest effort on Saturday. That best lap came late in the day but it was a cracker, a 2:04.263 as he pipped teammate Acosta by three tenths and set that new, unofficial scorcher. The two Red Bull KTM Ajos have been consistently quick, as have Guevara and Foggia, with the mix of veterans and rookies at the top making for interesting reading. Gabriel Rodrigo (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3) was fifth quickest, 0.072 off Guevara, who was in turn only 0.015 off Foggia. Sixth went to Day 2’s quickest man John McPhee (Petronas Sprinta Racing), ahead of 2020 Rookie of the Year Jeremy Alcoba (Indonesian Racing Gresini Moto3). Romano Fenati (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) kept his consistency to end the day eighth for Husqvarna, ahead of Filip Salač (Rivacold Snipers Team) in P9. Darryn Binder (Petronas Sprinta Racing), quickest on Friday, rounds out the top ten. 11th was third rookie Xavier Artigas (Leopard Racing) as he settles into Moto3™ as a debuting full time rider with a podium already under his belt, with Jason Dupasquier (CarXpert Pruestel GP) putting in a solid 12th on Sunday. Niccolo Antonelli (Avintia Esponsorama Moto3), Kaito Toba (CIP Green Power) and Sergio Garcia (GasGas Gaviota Aspar Team) completed the top 15, the latter despite a crash – rider ok. That’s it from the test, now all that’s left to do is race. Will the timesheets look similar once the race weekend begins? Who has the pace in race trim and who’s ready to battle it out as only Moto3™ can? We’ll find out soon enough as the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar begins on Friday… Check out motogp.com and social channels as ever for more content, and come back next weekend for more! Acosta made another big impression Foggia was another consistently quick Rodrigo ended Day 3 in the top five

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El Salvador surfer killed by lightning strike during training

Mar 21. 2021Photo Credit: Olympic Channel

By The Nation

A 22-year-old surfer died after being struck by lightning in El Salvador.

The young surfer, Katherine Diaz, was struck by lightning while training at El Tunco Beach in El Salvador.

The Salvadoran Surf Federation confirmed the sad news with a post on social media: “A great athlete who has represented our country has left us. See you soon, great warrior. El Salvador is in mourning.”

Katherine was the daughter of the federation’s president, Jose Diaz.

Shortly after El Salvador’s top surfer entered the water to train on Friday, she was struck down by lightning. Emergency services quickly arrived, but the surfer died on the beach.

The Spanish news paper AS reported that according to the Salvadoran Surf Federation, “The sky was clear and it was an unforeseen storm that did not seem to carry much electrical intensity either.”

Diaz was preparing for the ISA World Surf Games in El Salvador. The event is due to be held from May 29 to June 6 and serves as a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympic Games where surfing makes its Olympic debut.